The Student Prince Page #8

Kathie,

I have to go back to Karlsburg.

But it's

only for a little while.

The prime minister

has just come for me.

My grandfather is ill.

He's a husky old man.

He'll live forever.

I'll be back.

Of course.

I promise you I'll be back.

I know you will, Karl.

It would

have been a beautiful day.

There'll be

many other days, Kathie.

And each day more beautiful

than the last.

I'll be back.

You'll never come back.

His highness, Karl France.

Here. Here.

All right. All right.

Tell him to come in.

Your majesty.

Your highness.

Welcome home, Karl.

Let me have a good look at you.

Heidelberg obviously

agrees with you.

You're looking well.

What's more important

is that you look well.

Von Mark

was so depressing that...

You expected to find...

a doggerel old wreck

wasting away in bed, did you?

Well, I'm sorry

to disappoint you.

Von Mark is an alarmist.

I'm considerably

better as you can see,

and after a few weeks

in Switzerland,

I will be quite myself again.

I'm so happy, grandfather.

For your sake

as well as for mine.

As you say, Heidelberg

agrees with me, and...

I'm extremely

anxious to get back.

You are not going back.

This illness has

made it quite clear to me

that even

I cannot go on forever.

And it is not my intention

to leave with important

business unfinished.

I have been

in communication with the queen.

Your marriage will

take place very shortly.

But grandfather...

Formal papers are being drawn up

The details have been arranged.

Except for one detail.

I am not

in love with the princess.

It is of no importance.

It's of

the utmost importance to me.

That little bar maid, isn't it?

How do you know about Kathie?

It's my business to know,

my boy.

I am not criticizing, but surely

you can't take this seriously.

It is serious.

I'm in love with Kathie.

Bar maids are

as plentiful as gooseberries.

There'll be plenty

of other young ladies.

Not for me.

Then the princess will find you

an unusually faithful husband.

And if I don't wish to marry?

This marriage is a state affair.

I have never permitted

personal feelings

to interfere with duty.

I demand the same conduct

from you.

All my life I've been told

what to do, and I've done it.

But not anymore.

I've had a taste of freedom.

Freedom is a luxury

that no king can afford.

Then I don't want to be king.

What else

do you think you might be?

A man.

To run away from your duty,

your training, your obligation,

will hardly make a man of you.

If you're not a king,

you are nothing.

Least of all, a man.

But grandfather...

I am not talking

as your grandfather,

but as your king.

The discussion is over,

your highness.

Your majesty.

Eins, Swei, Drei, Vier

Lift your stein

and drink your beer

Eins, Swei, Drei, Vier

Lift your stein

and drink your beer

Drink! Drink! Drink!

To eyes that are bright as stars

When they're shining on me

Drink! Drink! Drink!

To lips that are red and sweet

As the fruit on the tree

Here's a hope

That those bright eyes

will shine

Lovingly,

longingly soon into mine

May those lips

that are red and sweet

Tonight with joy

my own lips meet

Drink! Drink! Drink!

Let the toast start

May young hearts never part

Drink! Drink! Drink!

Let every true lover

salute his sweetheart

Let's drink!

How is his majesty?

Splendid.

He told me so himself.

This was all a trick.

We're going back to Heidelberg.

Lutz, get the luggage.

It was extremely clever of you,

Von Mark,

to get me here by telling me

his majesty was ill.

I'm going back to Heidelberg.

You may tell his majesty that.

Please your highness,

his majesty is much too ill

to be upset.

If he were really ill,

I would not leave him.

He's going on a trip

to Switzerland.

Not Switzerland

nor any place else.

The doctors will tell you that

his majesty is

a great deal sicker

than either you or he realizes.

How can I believe you, Von Mark?

Your highness

suspects me of trickery.

Your highness is quite right.

But I'm deceiving

your grandfather, not you.

I have served my king too long

to have the heart

to tell him

what the doctors say.

It is matter of a few days,

an hour, any moment.

I'll walk with God

from this day on

His helping hand

I'll lean upon

This is my prayer

my humble plea

May the Lord be ever with me

There is no death

Though eyes grow dim

There is no fear

When I'm near to him

I'll lean on him forever

And he'll forsake me never

He will not fail me

As long as my faith is strong

Whatever road I may walk along

I'll walk with God

I'll take his hand

I'll talk with God

He'll understand

I'll pray to him

Each day to him

And he'll hear the words

That I say

His hand will

guide my throne and rod

And I'll never walk alone

While I walk with God

Well, Lutz,

I suppose everything is ready.

Your majesty's luggage is

already aboard the royal train.

Good.

The people of Karlsburg

are waiting eagerly

to welcome Princess Johanna

as your bride.

This marriage

is a very happy event.

Is it, Lutz?

For they've been

waiting 2 years for it.

I wish

your Majesty every happiness.

Let's drink to that.

It's all right, Lutz, relax.

Is that a command, your majesty?

Not at all,

but I wish you would.

Your wish is my command.

This is my bachelor party, Lutz.

At a time like this,

a man needs a friend.

We are friends, aren't we?

I hope not, your majesty.

Would the idea upset you, Lutz?

Indeed it does, your majesty.

It is an honor

to put on a king's shoes.

But I certainly wouldn't do it

for a friend.

If I must treat your majesty

as an equal,

then Hubert would

treat me as an equal.

And I assure you, your majesty

Hubert is not my equal.

Forgive me, Lutz.

I shall endeavor

to behave a manner

more suitable to the dignity

of our relationship.

I'm sorry to interrupt,

your majesty.

Please forgive me, but this...

this is impossible.

I'm much too old and fat

to start wearing uniforms.

Oh, I must resign

as privy counsellor.

My dear doctor, if you

weren't a privy counsellor,

you couldn't be

in the official party.

If you weren't

in the official party,

you couldn't

come to North Hausen.

And if you

weren't at North Hausen,

you couldn't be at the wedding.

And then I couldn't

have you as my best man.

I'm afraid

I must refuse your resignation.

Ah, what I go through

for friendship.

Besides you can't

leave me alone with Lutz.

Why not?

He doesn't approve of me.

No?

Ever since Heidelberg.

We thought of everything,

except that one day

I'd have to come back.

And that I'd be changed.

But that Karlsburg wouldn't be.

Perhaps after all,

Heidelberg was a mistake.

I don't regret a minute of it.

No, thank you, Lutz.

One moment.

As a privy counsellor,

I'm not permitted to drink

unless your majesty does.

But if I can

wear this uniform for you,

surely you can drink

a small brandy for my sake.

Silentium!

Silentium!

A salamander

for the privy counsellor.

Long life.

And pleasant memories.

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